Pitch or tuning pipe.



m5. 655,452. Patented Aug. 7, I900.

.1. a E. osrmsEn. PITCH 0R TUNING PIPE.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1900.) (N o M od 9 l 5 MHlL'QL IIIILL l 1 m \lllllllnm WWI")!!! WIND UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOHN OEFINGER AND ELIAS OEFINGER, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

PITCH OR TUNING PIPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 6 55,452, dated August 7, 1900.'

Application filed March 15, 1900. Serial No. 8,748. (No model.)

To c l/l whovn it may concern-.-

Be it known that we, JOHN OEFINGER. and ELIAS OEFINGER, of Meriden, in'the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Pitch or Tuning Pipes; and we do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a perspective View of a pitch or tuning pipe constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2, a sectional view of a single tube; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the reed-plates detached; Fig. 4c, a perspective view of a modified form of reedholders.

This invention relates to an improvement in pitch or tuning pipes, and particularly to that class which include a cylinder in which a reed is arranged, the object of the invention being to produce a pipe in which the reeds may be readily removed and replaced in case the reeds become inoperative or broken; and it consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in a the claim. Pipes of this character are made singly or in numbers.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings we have shown a pipe comprising four tubes A, which are passed through openings formed in bars B C, to which they are soldered, whereby the pipes are held parallel with each other and at the desired distance apart. In each of these tubes A we arrange a reed, which comprises a plate D longer than the tube and turned up at opposite ends, forming integral semicircular lips aa, which set into the opposite ends of the tubes, so as to partially close the ends, and in the plate is a reed E, secured in the usual manner. The lips at opposite ends of the plate bearing at opposite ends of the tubes firmly hold the plate in position, the width of the plate corresponding to the internal diameter of the tube, and when in position the lips are flush with the opposite ends.

By thus forming the plate the reeds are held in position without soldering or otherwise permanently securing them in position, and when desired they may be easily forced out of the tube and repaired or replaced, and the lip at the forward end of the plate forms a convenient surface to receive a key-letter.

Instead of forming the tubes separately and uniting them by the bars B C the tubes may be formed in a solid block F, as shown in Fig. 4, of hard rubber, wood, metal, or other suitable material. These tubes receive reedplates D, as above described.

It will be understood that when a number of tubes are employed their respective reeds differ in tone.

As before stated, we are aware that a series of pipes have been connected together; but this has usually been done by the introduc= tion of blocks or small pieces between the tubes, a construction which requires time to assemble. Tubes'have also been connected by strips secured to one side of the tubes; but such a construction is less rigid when finished than are the tubes when connected by the bars, as herein shown. We are also aware that in organ structures pipes have been inserted through perforations in the reed-tubes, and we do not therefore wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, such as our invention; but,

I'Iavin g fully described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-'- A pitch or tuning pipe comprising a tube and a reed-plate formed at opposite ends with integral semicircular lips, adapted to partially close the opposite ends of the tube, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscrib ing witnesses. 1

JOHN. OEFINGER. ELIAS onrmena.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM (J. MUELLER, WILBUR F. DAVIS. 

